Mine explosion in China: at least 90 people killed
23 May 19:17
At least 90 people were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi Province in northern China, Chinese state media reported on Saturday, May 23. This disaster is likely the worst in the Chinese mining industry in decades. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
The tragedy occurred the previous evening at a mine in Qinyuan County. At the time of the explosion, 247 people were underground. It is possible that the death toll will rise—it remains unclear whether any trapped miners are still inside the mine.
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Rescue Operation
More than 20 hours after the explosion, the rescue operation is continuing in full force—about 750 rescuers have been deployed. Most of the victims being treated in nearby hospitals have injuries caused by exposure to toxic gases.
On the morning of May 23, it was reported that 201 people had been brought up from the mine, including the bodies of eight victims—but the death toll then rose sharply. Authorities have detained two people, including the mine owner.
Government Response
Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded a thorough investigation into the causes of the disaster. He emphasized that those responsible must be held accountable in accordance with the law. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the strengthening of nationwide oversight of occupational safety and unscheduled safety inspections at enterprises.
The mine where the accident occurred operated in three shifts; the explosion took place during a shift change. The mine consists of six shafts and is designed to produce 1.2 million tons of coal per year. Local authorities classified it as a facility with a “high gas load”—that is, with elevated levels of flammable methane. It is unknown whether this led to the implementation of specific safety requirements.
China’s Coal Industry
Shanxi Province is one of the centers of China’s coal industry. Despite the active development of renewable energy, coal still accounts for slightly more than half of the country’s total energy consumption.
Shanxi’s coal industry is notorious for its low safety standards—despite a noticeable improvement in recent years. The most recent major mining accident in China occurred in early 2023: 53 people were killed in a mine collapse in Inner Mongolia, after which the central government introduced stricter safety requirements for the coal industry.
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